1966

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 * 1966-01-29 - MATAWAN-KEYPORT ROLLER DROME, MATAWAN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles appearing alongside Don & Juan at a Show and Dance event. Don & Juan are a R&B duo best known for their 1962 hit "What's Your Name", a song that The Castiles covered at a show in 1965. MC for the 8pm - 12am event is WNJR disc jockey Danny Stiles, who remained on the air until his death in March 2011. Admission is $1.25. The Castiles first known appearance at the Matawan-Keyport Roller Drome, a venue they'd play several times in 1966. Click the link above to see the original advertisement for the event from the January 27th Matawan Journal.


 * 1966-02-00 - WESTERN MONMOUTH COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FREEHOLD, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles sole act on the bill. Arranged by the Western Monmouth County Chamber Of Commerce, located at the time on Main Street in Freehold.


 * 1966-02-26 - MATAWAN-KEYPORT ROLLER DROME, MATAWAN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles appearing alongside and as the backing band for The Exciters, a pop group known for their 1962 #4 hit "Tell Him". Springsteen would later perform the same song with Patti Scialfa at various benefit concerts between 2002 and 2009. MC for the event is WNJR disc jockey Danny Stiles, who remained on the air until his death in March 2011. The Castiles would make several appearances at the Matawan-Keyport Roller Drome in 1966. Click the link above to see the original advertisement for the event from the //Matawan Journal//.


 * 1966-04-22 - MATAWAN-KEYPORT ROLLER DROME, MATAWAN, NJ**

MYSTIC EYES (see below)

No other set details known. One show, a monster 'Battle of the Bands' orchestrated by promoter Norman Seldin, featuring 25 local groups. All the groups appeared at the same time in a large circle and performed three songs each. The winner was The Rogues (of Middletown), Second place was Sonny and the Starfires (featuring Vini Lopez on drums) and in third place were The Brew Masters. It was long thought that The Castiles placed third in this contest but in actuality, they did not place in the top five. The top three bands plus a selection of the other most popular acts were given an opportunity to perform at the Roller Drome the following week as part of a major concert headlined by The Dovells, The Ad-Libs and The Crystals. Springsteen, Vini Lopez and judge Vinnie Roslin (future Steel Mill bass guitarist) meet for the first time at this event. Lopez has recalled that The Castiles were the best band to play and should have won.

In an interview on Little Steven's //Underground Garage// radio show, Bruce recalled that The Castiles performed Them's "Mystic Eyes" during a Battle Of The Bands event at the Matawan-Keyport Roller Drome in 1966. However, he also said that the prize for winning the Battle was to perform the following week with The Rascals, which does not tally with this event. It is possible that Bruce was mistaken, and perhaps was confusing this event with another - The Rascals did perform at the Roller Drome in early June 1966, but not as part of a Battle Of The Bands. Brucebase can find no information about another Battle at the Roller Drome in 1966 - certainly, none were advertised in the //Matawan Journal//. In that case, perhaps Bruce was mistaken about the prize, and it was this event he remembers.


 * 1966-04-29 - MATAWAN-KEYPORT ROLLER DROME, MATAWAN, NJ**

One show, a multi-artist extravaganza promoted by Norman Seldin, headlined by nationally famous artists The Crystals, The Dovells and The Ad-Libs. The show featured seven local bands on the undercard. Norman Seldin's 'Soul Set' opened for the national acts. The other local bands played for the dancers. There has long been confusion as to whether The Castiles played at this show. Evidence from three local newspapers now suggests they did not.


 * 1966-05-00 - LE TEENDEZVOUS, NEW SHREWSBURY, NJ**

No set details known. One show, in very early May, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill. Le Teendezvous, a popular club for teenagers that had opened in 1964, would end up being a frequent performing venue for The Castiles and later Springsteen bands during the 1966-69 period. This gig at Le Teendezvous was bass player Frank Marziotti’s final one as a member of the The Castiles. Although the other members didn’t want him to leave, Marziotti was about 10 years older than the others and had his own service station business to run. Marziotti has commented in an interview: “After the show, a kid came up to me and asked me if I was Bruce’s father. I took that as a sign that it was time for me to go”. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1966-05-00 - TEX & MARION VINYARD RESIDENCE, 39 CENTER STREET, FREEHOLD, NJ**

No set details known. Early May rehearsal, try-out, and hiring of new bass player Curt Fluhr to replace the just-departed Frank Marziotti. Curt would end up staying as the group’s bass player until the band dissolved in mid-1968.


 * 1966-05-18 - MR. MUSIC INC. STUDIO, BRICKTOWN, NJ**

BABY I / THAT'S WHAT YOU GET

Live rehearsals at site - and then formal recording - of two 'Springsteen/Theiss' songs, “Baby I” and “That’s What You Get”. Bruce and George wrote both songs in Tex Vinyard’s car on the way to Mr Music, a company that no longer exists but was then located at 2785 Hooper Ave in what is part of the Brick Mall complex. George Theiss has confirmed that these were the only two songs that Bruce and he ever co-wrote.

The recordings were cut directly to disc, which resulted in a significant loss of fidelity compared to how the band actually sounded. Seven or eight acetate test pressings of the studio takes were made (at least four of which survive). It was long thought that there was no master tape, but in an interview with Jim Henke for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Springsteen notes that they emerged from the studio with a 'two-track' which was 'recently found.'

"Baby I" was officially released on September 23, 2016 on //Chapter & Verse//, the companion album to Springsteen's autobiography //Born To Run//.


 * 1966-05-21 - FREEHOLD REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, FREEHOLD, NJ**

No set details known. One show, the 1966 Junior Prom, with The Castiles performing at their own high school for the very first time. All five members of the band (Springsteen, Theiss, Popkin, Fluhr and Manniello) were Juniors at Freehold High School, so this was their own Class Prom. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1966-06-00 - WOODHAVEN SWIM CLUB, FREEHOLD, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill.


 * 1966-07-02 - SURF 'N' SEE CLUB, SEA BRIGHT, NJ**

No set details known. This was the grand-opening night at The Surf ‘N’ See Club. One show, double bill, with The Castiles opening for headliners The Rogues, who had been hired as the club’s house band for the months of July and August. As part of its job description The Rogues were to audition any local bands seeking work at the club. In the late morning The Castiles (hoping to land some future bookings) had auditioned for three of the six members of The Rogues (vocalist Thom White, drummer Mike Waters and guitarist John Waasdorp). Although they had not intended to have someone open for them on opening night, Rogues members Thom White and Mike Waters have told Brucebase that after listening to a couple of songs they told The Castiles “you might as well leave your equipment here, you’re opening for us tonight”.


 * 1966-07-10 - SURF 'N' SEE CLUB, SEA BRIGHT, NJ**

No set details known. One show, a bizarre multi-artist extravaganza emceed by popular New York radio personality Gary Stevens, featuring five nationally known (but fading in popularity) recording artists - Johnny Tillotson. The Jive Five, Dean Parrish, The Tymes and The Shangri-Las. Local bands The Rogues and The Vik-Turs, both of whom had impressed club management at club tryouts in May, received name promotion for the show as well. Several other local area groups (including The Castiles) performed brief, 2 or 3 song sets but were not mentioned by name in the pre-concert ads.


 * 1966-07-29 - LOEW'S 35 DRIVE-IN, HAZLET, NJ**

No set details known. The Castiles headline at the establishment's '10th Birthday Party'. The band open festivities at 7pm and plays a 90-minute show until darkness and movie time. The featured film was the comedy "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming".


 * 1966-08-06 - HARRIS GARDENS FIREHOUSE, UNION BEACH, NJ**

No set details known. One show, a teen dance, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill, playing from 7pm to 11pm. This show, the penultimate in a series of six, was sponsored by the Bayshore Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps. It is believed The Castiles only played at this one show.


 * 1966-08-14 - SURF 'N' SEE CLUB, SEA BRIGHT, NJ**

No set details known. One show, another Gary Stevens/WMCA multi-artist extravaganza billed as the finale of a 3-day 'Surfers Holiday at Surf 'n' See' and headlined by the nationally known soul group Little Anthony and The Imperials. The Castiles, who had impressed at the similarly structured July 10 event at the club, were given name promotion and a better (and lengthier) performing slot for this show. Also on the bill was Steven Van Zandt’s band The Shadows.


 * 1966-08-21 - SURF 'N' SEE CLUB, SEA BRIGHT, NJ**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with The Castiles co-headlining with The Rogues.


 * 1966-09-00 - FREEWOOD ACRES FIRE DEPT. HALL, HOWELL, NJ**

No set details known. The Castiles perform at a teen dance held at the Recreation Center of the Freewood Acres Fire Department. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1966-09-00 - RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, RED BANK, NJ**

No set details known. The Castiles perform at a school dance. It was around this time that organist Robert (Bob/Bobby) Alfano joined The Castiles. This 6-man lineup of the band with Alfano on organ (Line-up #4) would be the longest-lasting - until the band split in mid 1968. Alfano would go on to be a member of Springsteen’s next band, Earth as well. Prior to joining The Castiles Bob Alfano had been in the 1965-66 Freehold group The Rising Suns. He attended Freehold Regional High School as well (he was a year younger and one grade behind all the other members of The Castiles).


 * 1966-09-03 - ARTHUR PRYOR BANDSHELL, ASBURY PARK, NJ**

No set details known. One show, a late summer Labor Day weekend 'Battle-of-the Bands', with The Castiles competing for a cash prize with about ten other bands, each playing 2 or 3 songs. The Bandshell was located in the Fifth Avenue Pavilion complex along the shore. The winner of the event was The Shadows (who included Steven Van Zandt in the line-up). Special thanks to Shadows organist Bruce Gumbert.


 * 1966-09-17 - SURF 'N' SEE CLUB, SEA BRIGHT, NJ**

No set details known. One show, double bill, with The Castiles co-headlining with The Berries.


 * 1966-10-00 - ST. ROSE OF LIMA SCHOOL, FREEHOLD, NJ**

No set details known. The Castiles perform at Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) dance for high school aged teens held in the cafeteria of Springsteen’s Elementary-Jr High School, where he had graduated in May 1963. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1966-10-01 - HULLABALOO, MIDDLETOWN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill.


 * 1966-10-16 - V.F.W. HALL, MIDDLETOWN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill.


 * 1966-11-00 - CAFÉ WHA?, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

MY GENERATION

The Castiles audition at Café Wha?, which they pass. This sets in motion what would turn out to be an extensive series of about thirty shows at Café Wha? over the next fifteen months. Tex Vinyard mentioned in an interview that "My Generation" was the song that got the band the gig. The club, located at 115 MacDougal Street in the west village of New York City, opened in 1959. Under the guidance of owner/manager Manny Roth, it became a prominent, cutting edge musical venue during the 1960s. A plethora of famous musicians played there (many of them unknowns who were just getting started). The now legendary club still operates to this day in the same location as it did all those years ago. Bob Dylan’s first ever stage performance (a walk-on) in New York took place at the Café Wha in January 1961. //Please click for an extensive overview of The Castiles’ history at this club.//


 * 1966-11-03 - HULLABALOO, MIDDLETOWN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill. The various promotional material advertises separate gigs by The Chlan (Wednesday, November 2nd), The Castiles (Thursday, November 3), The Shadows (Friday, November 4) and The Clique (Saturday, November 5) therefore confirming this as 1966. The photo of The Castiles seen in the promo is the one taken onstage at Surf 'n' See in Sea Bright, NJ a few months earlier.


 * 1966-11-11 - MATAWAN-KEYPORT ROLLER DROME, MATAWAN, NJ**

No set details known. It was long thought that this was a Castiles show but it now believed that, in fact, they did not take part in the show. The mix up is due to one of the groups involved being called The Caste, a band formerly called The Crunchers, from Matawan Regional High School. The other bands to take part in this gig were The Shadows and The Clique. Each band played for about 1 hour.


 * 1966-11-26 - HULLABALOO, MIDDLETOWN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill.


 * 1966-12-00 - CAFÉ WHA?, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. A typical Castiles performance here would be on one of the weekend afternoons, with the band sharing the bill with one or two other bands. //Please click for an extensive overview of The Castiles’ history at this club.// include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1966-12-00 - CAFÉ WHA?, NEW YORK CITY, NY**

No set details known. A typical Castiles performance here would be on one of the weekend afternoons, with the band sharing the bill with one or two other bands. //Please click for an extensive overview of The Castiles’ history at this club.// include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"


 * 1966-12-03 - MATAWAN-KEYPORT ROLLER DROME, MATAWAN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, triple bill, with The Castiles sharing the billing with 'Rusty Chain' and vocal group 'The Catalinas'.


 * 1966-12-22 - HULLABALOO, MIDDLETOWN, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill.


 * 1966-12-23 - AMERICAN HOTEL, FREEHOLD, NJ**

No set details known. One show, with The Castiles the sole act on the bill and performing all evening at a 'Sweet 16' birthday bash for a fellow Freehold Regional High School female student. The American Hotel (no longer operating) was then located at 20 E Main St. The brother of the birthday girl confirmed the exact date. include component="page" page="content_help_us" wrap="1"

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